Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SMITHSONIAN JOURNEYS
bone up on the opera
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
My soul grows a little bit each time I take a Smithsonian tour. They are not
vacations; they are personal journeys of exploration and adventure.
—Janis Archer, past Smithsonian tour participant
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Many of the big opera houses now offer captioning, either above the stage or on the back
of the seats, which helps when watching those Italian masterpieces—but if you
really
want to
understand opera, consider a study trip with Smithsonian Journeys. Every year, this tour com-
pany associated with the world-renowned Smithsonian Institution offers about a half-dozen
educational opera tours, ranging from a primer for beginners who barely know the difference
between a diva and a divan to behind-the-scenes opera tours for those who have seen
La Travi-
ata
a zillion times and can convincingly discuss the pros and cons of casting renowned sop-
rano Renée Fleming.
OPERA CLIFFSNOTES
Cornerstones, a website developed by Opera America, lists the top 20 most per-
formed operas in North America, along with a synopsis, a composer biography, pho-
tos, and audio clips (www.operaamerica.org; look under audiences/lifelong learning/
